Dynamic power switching in current-steering DACS

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided for dynamic power switching in current-steering digital-to-analog converters (DACs). A DAC circuit may be configured to apply digital-to-analog conversions based on current steering, and to particularly incorporate use of dynamic power switching during conversions. The DAC circuit may comprise a main section, which may connect a main supply voltage to a main current source. The main section may comprise a positive-side branch and a negative-side branch, which may be configured to steer positive-side and negative-side currents, such as in a differential manner, to effectuate the conversions. The dynamic power switching may be applied, for example, via a secondary section connecting a main current source in the DAC circuit to a secondary supply voltage. The secondary supply voltage may be configured such that it may be less than the main supply voltage used in driving the current steering in the DAC circuit.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/611,827, filed on June 2, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/218,586 (now U.S. Pat. No.9,698,806), filed on Jul. 25, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/869,268 (now U.S. Pat.No. 9,461,666),filed on Sept. 29, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/455,361 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,148,160), filed onAug. 8, 2014, which makes reference to, claims priority to and claimsthe benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/865,759,filed on Aug. 14, 2013. Each of the above identified documents is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to communications. Morespecifically, certain implementations of the present disclosure relateto methods and systems for dynamic power switching in current-steeringDACs.

BACKGROUND

Existing methods and systems for performing digital-to-analogconversions may be inefficient. Further limitations and disadvantages ofconventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one ofskill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with someaspects of the present method and apparatus set forth in the remainderof this disclosure with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A system and method is provided for dynamic power switching incurrent-steering DACs, substantially as shown in and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentdisclosure, as well as details of illustrated implementation(s) thereof,will be more fully understood from the following description anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example electronic system that may be operable toperform digital-to-analog conversions.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example current-steering digital-to-analogconvertor (DAC).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example current-steering digital-to-analogconvertor (DAC) with dynamic power switching.

FIG. 4 illustrates example code based current flow diagrams for Class-Aand Class-B digital-to-analog convertors (DACs).

FIG. 5 illustrates example waveform diagrams for Non-Return-to-Zerodigital-to-analog convertors (NRZ DACs) and Return-to-Zerodigital-to-analog convertors (RZ DACs).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for configuringand using a current-steering digital-to-analog convertor (DAC) withdynamic power switching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain example implementations may be found in method and system fornon-intrusive noise cancellation in electronic devices, particularly inuser-supported devices. As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and“circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (“hardware”) and anysoftware and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, beexecuted by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with thehardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memorymay comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first plurality of linesof code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a secondplurality of lines of code. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any oneor more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “xand/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}.As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of theseven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. Asutilized herein, the terms “block” and “module” refer to functions thancan be performed by one or more circuits. As utilized herein, the term“example” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, orillustration. As utilized herein, the terms “for example” and “e.g.,”introduce a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, orillustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform afunction whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware andcode (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless ofwhether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by someuser-configurable setting.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example electronic system that may be operable toperform digital-to-analog conversions. Shown in FIG. 1 is an electronicsystem 100.

The electronic system 100 may comprise suitable circuitry forimplementing various aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard,the electronic system 100 may be configured to support performing,executing or running various operations, functions, applications and/orservices. The electronic system 100 may be used, for example, inexecuting computer programs, playing video and/or audio content, gaming,performing communication applications or services (e.g., Internet accessand/or browsing, email, text messaging, chatting and/or voice callingservices), providing networking services (e.g., WiFi hotspot, Bluetoothpiconet, Ethernet networking, cable or satellite systems, and/or active4G/3G/femtocell data channels), or the like.

In some instances, the electronic system 100 may enable and/or supportcommunication of data. In this regard, the electronic system 100 mayneed to communicate with other systems (local or remote), such as duringexecuting, running, and/or performing of operations, functions,applications and/or services supported by the electronic system 100. Forexample, the electronic system 100 may be configured to support (e.g.,using suitable dedicated communication components or subsystems) use ofwired and/or wireless connections/interfaces, which may be configured inaccordance with one or more supported wireless and/or wired protocols orstandards, to facilitate transmission and/or reception of signals(carrying data) to and/or from the electronic system 100. In thisregard, the electronic system 100 may be operable to process transmittedor received signals in accordance with applicable wired or wirelessprotocols.

Examples of wireless protocols or standards that may be supported and/orused by the communication subsystem 250 may comprise wireless personalarea network (WPAN) protocols, such as Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15); nearfield communication (NFC) standards; wireless local area network (WLAN)protocols, such as WiFi (IEEE 802.11); cellular standards, such as2G/2G+ (e.g., GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and IS-95 or cdmaOne) and/or 2G/2G+ (e.g.,CDMA2000, UMTS, and HSPA); 4G standards, such as WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) andLTE; Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and/or the like. Examples of wired protocolsand/or interfaces that may be supported and/or used by the communicationsubsystem 250 comprise Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Fiber Distributed DataInterface (FDDI), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), cabletelevision and/or internet (ATSC, DVB-C, DOCSIS), and Universal SerialBus (USB) based interfaces. Examples of signal processing operationsthat may be performed by the electronic system 100 comprise, forexample, filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and/ordigital-to-analog conversion, up-conversion/down-conversion of basebandsignals, encoding/decoding, encryption/decryption, and/ormodulation/demodulation.

In some instances, the electronic system 100 may be configured to enableor support input/output operations, such as to allow providing output toand/or obtaining input from user(s) of the electronic system 100. Inthis regard, the electronic system 100 may comprise components orsubsystems for enabling obtaining user input and/or to provide output tothe user. For example, the electronic system 100 may be operable tosupport audio output operations, whereby acoustic signals may begenerated and/or outputted via suitable output devices (e.g.,loudspeakers). In this regard, the output signals may be generated basedon content, which may be in digital form (e.g., digitally formattedmusic or the like).

Examples of electronic systems may comprise handheld electronic devices(e.g., cellular phones, smartphones, or tablets), personal computers(e.g., laptops or desktops), servers, dedicated media devices (e.g.,televisions, game consoles, or portable media players, etc.), set-topboxes (STBs) or other similar receiver systems (e.g., satellitereceivers), and the like. The disclosure, however, is not limited to anyparticular type of electronic system.

In operation, the electronic system 100 may be operable to performvarious operations, functions, applications and/or services. Forexample, in some instances, electronic system 100 may be configured orused to communicate data (to and/or from the system), and to process thecommunicated data. In this regard, communication of data, whether overwired or wireless interfaces, may typically comprise transmitting and/orreceiving analog signals that are communicated over wireless and/orwired connections. In this regard, typically analog radio frequency (RF)signals may be used to carry data (e.g., content), which may be embeddedinto the analog signals using analog or digital modulation schemes. Foranalog communications, data is transferred using continuously varyinganalog signals, and for digital communications, the analog signals areused to transfer discrete messages in accordance with a particulardigitalization scheme. Accordingly, handling of digital communications(e.g., in the electronic system 100) may typically require performing,inter alia, digital-to-analog conversions at the transmitting end andanalog-to-digital conversions at the receiving end. For example, theelectronic device may comprise one or more digital-to-analog converters(DACs) 110. In this regard, each DAC 110 may comprise circuitry,interfaces, logic and/or code for performing digital-to-analogconversions.

Each DAC 110 may comprise suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/orcode for performing digital-to-analog conversions. For example, the DAC110 may be utilized during signal processing, such as to allowconverting digital data into analog waveforms (e.g., corresponding toand/or being embedded into acoustic signals, radio frequency (RF)signals, etc.). The disclosure, however, is not limited to anyparticular use scenario, and may be utilized in any appropriate setupperforming or requiring digital-to-analog conversions.

Various architectures and/or designs may be used in performingdigital-to-analog conversions and/or for implementing digital-to-analogconverters (DACs). For example, DACs may be implemented based oncurrent-steering. In this regard, in current-steering DACs, theconversion from digital to analog may be performed based on steering ofcurrent from sources, with the steering being controlled or adjustedbased on the input digital code. There may be certain issues and/ordisadvantages with use of current-steering DACs, however. For example,typically current-steering DACs may be terminated in a diode connectedtransistor when further amplification is desired. Current flowingthrough the diode connected transistor may be then mirrored and scaledup for amplification. The disadvantage of such termination is that itmay reduce the voltage drop across the current-steering DAC stage givingrise to various DAC non-idealities. Also the signal voltage swing due tosignal current flowing in the diode connected transistor may give riseto the undesirable signal dependent DAC switching operation. Anotherissue with the diode connected termination is achieving large currentgain. When high current gain is desired, the current mirror bandwidthmay suffer due to large capacitive loading at the diode connectedtermination.

Accordingly, in various implementations in accordance with the presentdisclosure, the problems described above may be solved and/or remedied.For example, these problems may be addressed with an introduction of lowinput impedance termination stage. An example implementationincorporating a low input impedance termination stage is described inmore detail with respect to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example current-steering digital-to-analogconvertor (DAC). Shown in FIG. 2 is a digital-to-analog convertor (DAC)200.

The DAC 200 may comprise suitable circuitry for performingdigital-to-analog conversions. For example, the DAC 200 may correspondto the DAC 100, substantially as described with respect to FIG. 1. TheDAC 200 may be utilized, for example, during signal processing, such asto allow converting digital data into analog waveforms. The disclosure,however, is not limited to any particular use scenario, and may beutilized in any appropriate setup performing or requiringdigital-to-analog conversion.

In the example implementation shown in FIG. 2, the DAC 200 may beimplemented as a typical current-steering DAC. For example, the DAC 200may comprise a plurality of DAC cells 220 _(i), corresponding to anarray of current sources (I_(SOURCE)). Each current source I_(SOURCE)(of each DAC cell 220 _(i)) may be steered to either side of adifferential load (e.g., using a pair of resistors R₁ and R₂), which maybe applied to two switching branches, comprising a pair of transistorsM₁ and M₂, which are coupled to a supply voltage (V_(DD)) through thedifferential load resistors R1 and R2, respectively. The transistors M₁and M₂ may be NMOS transistors. The disclosure is not so limited,however, and other types of transistors (e.g., PMOS transistors, CMOStransistors, etc.) may be used. Thus, two currents may flow through eachDAC cell 220 _(i), a positive-side current (I_(P)) and a negative-sidecurrent (I_(N)), corresponding to the positive and negative halves ofthe output signal, respectively. The load within each DAC cell 220 _(i)may be differentially adjusted in each side, thus resulting inadjustment of the values of I_(P) and I_(N). In this regard, the DAC 200may comprise an encoder 210, which may be adapted to generate controlsignals to the current-steering DAC cells based on the input code (i.e.the digital code being converted). The control signals may, for example,control operations of the transistors M1 and M2, which in turn controlsthe values of the currents I_(P) and I_(N) in each DAC cell 220 _(i).

One possible issue with typical current-steering DACs, such as the oneshown in FIG. 2, may be excessive power consumption. For example,because conversion performed in each DAC cell 220 _(i) is simply basedon steering current to either side of the differential load, the totalcurrent running in each DAC cell 220 _(i) may remain the same (i.e.combined value of I_(P) and I_(N), through R1 and R2 remains constant aslong as the DAC cell is operating). In other words, in typicalcurrent-steering DAC cells power may be wasted because current mayalways be running through the DAC cell (in either one or in both of theload branches) through them even when switching to values correspondingto digital low or high.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example current-steering digital-to-analogconvertor (DAC) with dynamic power switching. Shown in FIG. 3 is adigital-to-analog convertor (DAC) 300.

The DAC 300 may be substantially similar to DAC 200, as described withrespect to FIG. 2. In this regard, the DAC 300 also may be configured toprovide digital-to-analog conversions based on current-steering. The DAC300, however, may be modified to provide dynamic power switching. Forexample, the DAC 200 may comprise a plurality of DAC cells 320 _(i),corresponding to an array of current sources (I_(SOURCE)). In thisregard, each DAC cell 320 _(i) in the DAC 300 may comprise, as a ‘mainsection’ the same topology of the DAC cells 220 _(i) of the DAC 200, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 2 for example. The main section of theDAC cells 320 _(i) may be configured to provide the digital-to-analogconversions. In addition, each DAC cell 320 _(i) may comprise asecondary section that is particularly configured to provide the desireddynamic power switching. For example, the secondary section may comprisea secondary supply voltage (V_(DDL)) and a switch (e.g., a thirdtransistor M₃, which maybe a NMOS transistor for example) that may beconnected to each DAC cell's current source (I_(SOURCE)), to enablesteering the current to the secondary supply.

The dynamic power switching may be achieved by controlling the switch(M3) and/or the secondary supply voltage. For example, the powerswitching may be activated when the switch (M3) is closed. Also, thesecondary supply voltage may be set and/or configured to provideoptimized performance. For example, the secondary supply voltage(V_(DDL)) may be set and/or configured such that it may be lower thanthe main supply voltage V_(DD) (V_(DDL)<V_(DD)), so that when thecurrent is steered to the secondary supply, less power may be consumed.In some instances, this may be done to the entire DAC array—that is allthe DAC cells 320 _(i), or to only some selected elements of the array,such as the MSB elements for example.

Use of dynamic power switching, in current-steering based DACs, may beuseful in various applications, such as applications where the currentof one or multiple cells may be steered away from the differential loadsometimes. For example, dynamic power switching, in accordance with theabove described technique, may be used in implementing Class-Bdigital-to-analog convertors (DACs). In this regard, in Class-A DACs,the output component may be configured to allow current flow for theentire range of input or output signals—e.g., there is always currentflowing through one or both of the negative-side and positive-sidebranches. Thus, in terms of output waveforms, Class-A and Class-B DACsreproduce the same differential waveform but different single-endedwaveform. Class-A DACs may be configured to reproduce the waveform inits entirety, and so that the total current (I_(total)) in such DACs isonly steered into the load resistor pair but remains constant regardlessof the DAC input code (I_(total)=I_(P)+I_(N), with I_(P) and I_(N)corresponding to the currents steered into the load resistors R₁ andR₂). In Class-B DACs, on the other hand, the total load current is afunction of input code. In this regard, the current flows through eachof the negative-side and positive-side branches of the DAC circuitryduring the corresponding part of the output cycle—i.e., the differentialload sides are adjusted such that each of I_(N) and I_(P) only flowsduring the negative and positive halves of the output signal,respectively. Example current profiles of Class-A and Class-B DACs areillustrated in FIG. 4.

Thus, Class-B DACs would be more power efficient than Class-A DAC.Accordingly, the described technique may provide an effective way toimplement a Class-B current-steering DAC without requiring shutting offof the current sources, which slows down the DAC speed significantly.

Another possible application is Return-to-Zero digital-to-analogconvertors (RZ DACs). In this regard, in a Return-to-Zero DAC (RZ DAC),all the currents may be steered away from the load, such as periodically(e.g., every half clock cycle or every other clock cycle), to generate azero differential output. Doing so may enable reducinginter-symbol-interference (ISI) in the DAC and improves linearity.However, because the currents are steered to the load only half of thetime, half of the power may be wasted, or in other words, to achieve thesame original output power as a Non-Return-to-Zero DAC (NRZ DAC), thetotal DAC power would have to be doubled. Accordingly, employing thetechnique described in this disclosure, i.e., to steer the current to alower supply during the Return-to-Zero phase of the half clock cycle,can reduce the total power consumption.

FIG. 4 illustrates example code based current flow diagrams for Class-Aand Class-B digital-to-analog convertors (DACs). Shown in FIG. 4 arecurrent diagrams 410 and 420, corresponding to code based current flowsfor Class-A and Class-B DACs.

The current diagram 410 depicts example current profile of a Class-ADAC, in which the total current (I_(total)) steered into the loadresistor pair (e.g., corresponding to the positive-side and thenegative-side of the output) remains constant (e.g.,I_(total)=I_(P)+I_(N), with I_(P) and I_(N) corresponding to thecurrents steered into the load resistors R₁ and R₂), regardless of theDAC input code. Thus, when I_(P) decreases I_(N) increases, and viceversa (so that I_(total) remains the same, for example).

On the other hand, the current diagram 420 depicts example currentprofile of a Class-B DAC, whereby the total load current may be simply afunction of input code. Thus, fall of the positive-side current I_(P)does not necessitate rise in negative-side current I_(N).

FIG. 5 illustrates example waveform diagrams for Non-Return-to-Zerodigital-to-analog convertors (NRZ DACs) and Return-to-Zerodigital-to-analog convertors (RZ DACs). Shown in FIG. 5 are waveformdiagrams 510 and 520, corresponding to output waveforms of example NRZDAC and RZ DAC, respectively.

As shown in the example waveform diagrams 510 and 520, a NRZ DAC and aRZ DAC may have the similar overall output waveform (output voltage:V_(OUT)) 512 and 522—a zero differential output, even though actualreal-time voltage may vary, as shown by example real voltage graphs 514and 524—where the voltage (524) in the RZ DAC is shown to return to zeroat particular points (e.g., every half clock cycle or every other clockcycle). In a legacy implementation, the return to zero in RZ DAC may beachieved by steering all the currents in the RZ DAC circuit away fromthe load, every half clock cycle or every other clock cycle, to generatea zero differential output. Doing so, however, may result in wasting ofpower as the currents are steered to the load only half of the time. Inother words, to achieve the same original output power as a NRZ DAC, thetotal DAC power would have to be doubled. However, in an enhancedimplementation, in accordance with the present disclosure, the powerwaste may be reduced, such as by using the secondary power supply(V_(DDL)) when steering the currents to return to zero, resulting inless power consumption to achieve a zero differential output.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for configuringand using a current-steering digital-to-analog convertor (DAC) withdynamic power switching. Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a flowchart 600, comprising a plurality of example steps.

In step 602, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) DAC may be constructedand/or configured using one or more current steering circuits, with eachcircuit comprising main and secondary branches, optimized for providingdigital-to-analog conversion based on current steering, with dynamicpower steering, as described with respect to FIG. 3 for example. Thismay be done at design and/or manufacturing time, but it may alsocomprise additional configuration and/or adjustment during operation ofthe DAC. For example, a DAC may be structured and/or designed with thesimilar topology as DAC 300, for example. This may comprise selecting(or configuring) particular power supplies (main and secondary),particular main current supply, particular resistor(s), and/orparticular transistor elements.

In step 604, a digital input may be fed into the DAC, to enableconverting the input into corresponding analog waveforms.

In step 606, digital-to-analog conversion of the input may be performed,based on differential current steering in the main branch of eachcircuit (e.g., steering positive-side and negative-side currents), withthe secondary branch providing power switching (e.g., based on secondarysupply voltage to which the secondary branch is connected). For example,the DAC may be a class-B DAC, in which the secondary branch may beconfigured and/or used to enable the required current-steering withoutrequiring shutting off the current sources.

The process may then terminate (if no further conversion(s) arerequired), or may continue, such as by looping back to step 604, toenable handling additional input(s).

Other implementations may provide a non-transitory computer readablemedium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machine readablemedium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine codeand/or a computer program having at least one code section executable bya machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computerto perform the steps as described herein for non-intrusive noisecancelation.

Accordingly, the present method and/or system may be realized inhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Thepresent method and/or system may be realized in a centralized fashion inat least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computersystems. Any kind of computer system or other system adapted forcarrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typicalcombination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computersystem with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed,controls the computer system such that it carries out the methodsdescribed herein. Another typical implementation may comprise anapplication specific integrated circuit or chip.

The present method and/or system may also be embedded in a computerprogram product, which comprises all the features enabling theimplementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded ina computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer programin the present context means any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversionto another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a differentmaterial form. Accordingly, some implementations may comprise anon-transitory machine-readable (e.g., computer readable) medium (e.g.,FLASH drive, optical disk, magnetic storage disk, or the like) havingstored thereon one or more lines of code executable by a machine,thereby causing the machine to perform processes as described herein.

While the present method and/or system has been described with referenceto certain implementations, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present methodand/or system. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intendedthat the present method and/or system not be limited to the particularimplementations disclosed, but that the present method and/or systemwill include all implementations falling within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a digital-to-analogconverter (DAC) operable to receive an input digital code comprising aplurality of bits, wherein the DAC comprises a plurality of cells, eachcell of the DAC comprising a current source and at least one primaryswitch, wherein the at least one primary switch is operable to steer acurrent from the current source according to a bit of the input digitalcode; a secondary source; and one or more secondary switches operablycoupled to a first cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the system isoperable to steer the current in the first cell to the secondary source.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary switch is operable toprovide a dynamic power switching.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thesecondary source is a voltage source.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe current source in each cell of the DAC is driven by a main supplyvoltage.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary source is avoltage source, and wherein the current source in each cell of the DACis driven by a main supply voltage having a higher supply voltage thanthe secondary source.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondaryswitch comprises at least one transistor element.
 7. The system of claim6, wherein the at least one transistor element comprises a NMOStransistor element, PMOS transistor element, and/or CMOS transistorelement.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein each cell of the DACcomprises a positive-side branch and a negative-side branch.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the positive-side branch and thenegative-side branch are configured to generate or steer a positive-sidebranch current and a negative-side current, respectively.
 10. The systemof claim 1, wherein the one or more secondary switches is operablycoupled to a second cell of the DAC, and wherein the system is operableto steer the current in the second cell of the DAC to the secondarysource.
 11. A method comprising: receiving an input digital code using adigital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein the input digital codecomprises a plurality of bits, and the DAC comprises a plurality ofcells; steering a current, in each cell of the DAC, according to a bitof the input digital code; and steering the current in a first cell ofthe DAC to a secondary source.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein thesteering provides dynamic power switching.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the secondary source is a voltage source.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the current source in each cell of the DAC is drivenby a main supply voltage.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein thesecondary source is a voltage source, and wherein the current source ineach cell of the DAC is driven by a main supply voltage having a highersupply voltage than the secondary source.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the secondary switch comprises at least one transistor element.17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one transistor elementcomprises a NMOS transistor element, PMOS transistor element, and/orCMOS transistor element.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein each cellof the DAC comprises a positive-side branch and a negative-side branch.19. The system of claim 18, wherein the positive-side branch and thenegative-side branch are configured to generate or steer a positive-sidebranch current and a negative-side current, respectively.
 20. The methodof claim 11, wherein the method comprises steering the current in asecond cell of the DAC to the secondary source.